What toys are the best at this age for keeping a 3 year old occupied? I'm not sure if jigsaws are too advanced for her? Going to smyths @ weekend & want to pick up a few bit's but don't want to get rubbish either! Thanks

sorry haven't read replies but anything in the BUSY BOOKS series. the book in big A4 size and comes complete with a little playmat and lots of figures. lots of them to choose from my little pony, sofia, disney, frozen, avengers etc. you buy them either in tescos/dunnes/tk maxx or online on amazon/ebay but honestly they continue to be the most played toy in our house. we bin the book and throw the little toys in a zip close bag and its in my handbag for wherever we are and need entertainment. they are between 7 and 10 euro and we love themafter that the disney little people castle and figures are great imo. we have alot of little figures and my children make up stories etc. imaginext (fisher price) is our favourite make here

My 3.5 dd loves colouring and drawing (the ikea easel was a great buy). Adores the duplo Lego and mega blocks. She plays for ages with the toy animals (combination of the fisher price ones and the resin ones you see in art and hobby shop). Jigsaws get loads of use as do games like snap (although concept of losing is a tricky one), giant snakes and ladders.

Things I thought she'd love at this age and doesn't have much interest are dolls and buggies etc. also the toy kitchen she got from Santa is never used by her although her toddler brother loves it so at least it's getting used!! I also recently gave away a toy supermarket that got no use and took up loads of space

Other "branded" toys she goes back to over and over would be the doc McStuffins doctor kit, dora backpack, leapfrog picnic basket, Minnie Mouse bus, peppa pig house. The musical instruments also get a fair amount of use. Oh and she adores all her stuffies and would play for ages with them setting them up in various situations.

My dd is 3 and loves jigsaws, she's on the 100 piece ones. She's also big into dressing up and makeup. Happy land stuff popular too and a dolls house. Animagic is her favourite toy I'd say, she plays with it for hours! She likes fiddly bits.